Hi,
Thanks guys for your replies which I appreciate.
I've never tried to hide or deceive anyone and perhaps I've been too open due to my ignorance; I've been a member of vintage radio forums for many years and have fully restored over 100 vintage radios also one vintage TV; I've also had articles published on the subject. When I state I like to do everything to the best of my ability I mean exactly that and go to great lengths not to make mistakes; safety is paramount to me not only to me personally but also others who may be affected by anything I do;
http://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=62371
https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/showthread.php?t=67298
I've wound many transformers; tuning coils and field windings; I even wound a 75kg transformer installing 3 phase 415V into my workshop for less than £120. I've made vintage capacitors and even made a wire wound potentiometer for a forum member; on the TV restoration alone voltages up to around 15,000V both AC/DC were present as I worked on the open chassis with the CRT hooked up on the bench. Vintage radio mains transformers easily have 750V on them then they are center tapped for the rectifier valve plus other windings for the valve heaters etc. I was taught by The National Coal Board over 50 years ago aged 16 how to connect to the supply big 3 phase motors and I was further taught high safety standards as a mining mechanical engineering apprentice working underground in a deep coal mine from the age of 15; legally 16 but the engineers took me underground to be a tool bag carrier.
I design and make my own machinery from scratch just having completed a 4hp circular saw bench; I've also restored many big industrial cast iron machines including upgrading their electrics adding modern motor and DOL starter both single & 3 phase.
When I adopted vintage radio as an hobby I quickly realized I needed 3 hands; one to hold the soldering iron; one to hold the solder and a third to hold the component being soldered; I dreamt up the idea of a mini coil winder having worked on a Philips radio which had tiny coils which were slipped over multiple connectors then soldered which I thought to be brilliant; my design adds the tiny coils directly onto the component;
http://golbornevintageradio.co.uk/forum/archive/index.php?thread-102.html
Since then the design has been copied many times and also I've made at least a dozen of these mini coil winders as gifts. Once I get into a project my enthusiasm and determination are without limit because I'll see a project through to the end and never ever quit however hard it becomes.
I'm a dinosaur of an age now sadly passed by being aged almost 70 and brought up with good manners and a powerful work ethic; I don't drink alcohol; don't smoke and don't do drugs; Bron and I haven't had an holiday away from home for the last 40 years; I've never been abroad nor been on a plane and I don't even know how to use a mobile phone. Our lives have been spent making our home and now we are enjoying all the benefits of doing without for so many years. My last job I started in 1977 as a wagon loader and 24 years later in 2000 retired from being in charge of three departments. I've been troubled by poor health all my life but although at times it puts me in hospital and slows me down it will not stop me. For the last forty years the only work never done by me at home has been with gas.
I don't think I'm above the law and I don't think I lord it over people I'm just a guy who is hard working but forever learning new skills; Bron is my best friend and my wife whom I love to bits and we do everything together; whilst I have Bron I have everything.
I pulled the mains fuse for my safety and in doing so I was aware I shouldn't be snipping the seal but I installed the previous CU over 25 years ago doing the job live; how many of you electricians can put their hand up and honestly say they have never snipped a seal to pull the mains fuse? I know its wrong but you electricians should know better than I? Please don't throw stones when I do it?
I started this electrical work quite a while ago but I've been troubled by poor health; I wasn't happy with tripping the workshop mcb whilst powering my new saw bench or big welder so decided at last to not only convert the workshop power socket to a "C" type mcb but to sort all the electrics out once and for all; I hope I'm not arrogant when I say I find household wiring easy and I've no problems installing a CU but I wouldn't ever tackle any work of this kind if I had the slightest doubt; I've seen a number of times electrical work has to be carried out by a "Competent" person and this is not referred to as a "Qualified" person; I'm competent and when I started this job I knew I could carry it out but I always intended to get an electrician in to do the necessary checks and to sort out the correct paperwork which I will do shortly.
I never intended to do this work with the intention of saving money; I've bought some decent kit since I started to complement the kit I already owned; Cable tracer; Socket tester; Fluke volt stick; head light and CK strippers not one of these are cheap; I bought an up to date fully compliant CU and correct Wiska glands etc; a mains isolator and upgraded the tails; in short I've not in any way skimped on either money or quality and I never will. Whatever it costs to get my work certified I'll gladly pay it.
I'm a new comer to this forum Lurch and can fully understand you becoming fed up of new comers posting the same questions time after time however on the whole I've been made welcome on the forum and treated with respect; not all forum members are time served electricians but many new comers have lots of other skills and those like me join to improve their skill and to ask the silly questions. No offence meant Lurch and I can fully understand what you mean; once I get everything sorted then I'll be history because I have lots of projects stacked up which don't include household wiring or CU's.
In earlier posts the question of fire proofing arose regarding my new mounting board which I took seriously; please see the picture below of a a very crude test I carried out regarding the fire proofing of the "Correct" mounting board; yes it burns readily and if its supposed to be fire proof then it smacks of the terrible "Grenfell Tower" problem where corners have been cut?
I'll complete what I started then get an electrician in. I now know a lot more due to joining this forum and would like to thank all those members who have offered information and suggestions; thank you.
I've found a number of faults on our electrics and I don't regret upgrading to a new CU with RCD's had I known up front I could have upgraded a bit further before buying the CU I would have spent the extra money; what worries me now if I sneeze in the workshop is something going to trip?
Kind regards, Col.